System and method for determining orientation of planes of imaging

Abstract

An apparatus for use in determining the orientation and location of an image plane, particularly when imaging the head of a human being, has an elongated flexible channel provided for containing an imaging-opaque fluid which is visible in the image. First and second carriers are each provided for supporting three respective portions of the elongated flexible channel at respective orientations transverse to the image plane and in predetermined space relation with respect to one another. Preferably, the portions of the said elongated flexible channel are arranged substantially as legs of a triangle. A support arrangement maintains the first and second carriers in fixed spatial relation to one another and to the head of the human being. The present invention can be used in any of several known imaging modalities by using appropriate contrast agents. After imaging, the portions of the said elongated flexible channel appear as points in the image, the location of the plane of imaging, and its orientation, being determined by analysis of the distance between such points, and the ratios of the distances between them. Such analysis can be performed by computer. Additionally, with the use of the present invention, computer analysis can be used to reconstruct a given set of consecutive image planes, such as from MRI, to match another given set of image planes, such as from PET.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for defining the location of an image plane of an image through a selected portion of the body of a being, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of elongated channel sections for containing a material which is visible in the image;   first carrier means for supporting a first predetermined number of said elongated channel sections in respective orientations transverse to the image plane and in predetermined space relation with respect to one another, said first carrier means being provided with respective first and second carrier portions for supporting respective ones of said plurality of elongated channel sections therealong, said first and second carrier portions being coupled to one another at respective first ends thereof, and to a base member at respective second ends, said first and second carrier portions and said base member forming a triangle, and a third carrier portion arranged substantially to bisect said triangle; and   support means for maintaining said first carrier means in fixed spatial relation to the body of the being.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected portion of the body of the being is the head of the being, said support means comprising ear coupling means for coupling said support means to an ear of the being. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein there is further provided second carrier means for supporting a second predetermined number of said elongated channel sections in respective orientations transverse to the image plane and in predetermined space relation with respect to one another, said second carrier means being provided with respectively associated first and second carrier portions for supporting respective ones of said plurality of elongated channel sections therealong, said first and second carrier portions being coupled to one another at respective ends thereof, and to a base member at respective second ends, said first and second carrier portions and said base member forming a triangle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second carrier means further comprises a third carrier portion arranged substantially to bisect said triangle. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the being is a human being and said ear coupling means is coupled to said base member of said first carrier means, for arranging said base member on the head of the human being so as to be substantially parallel with the cantho-meatal line. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated channel sections are coupled to one another to form a continuous channel, said continuous channel having input means for receiving an imaging-opaque fluid, and an output means for eliminating said imaging-opaque fluid. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongated channel sections are portions of a continuous length of flexible tubing. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second carrier means are formed of an imaging-transparent material. 
     
     
       9. A method of defining an image plane of an image with respect to a selected portion of the body of a being, the method comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of elongated channel members having an imaging-opaque characteristic in the vicinity of the selected portion of the body, in an orientation transverse to the image plane, and configured in space relationship to one another to form substantially a bisected triangle, whereby a distance between said elongated channel members varies in response to position of the image plane along said elongated channel members;   forming the image to include therein images of the crosssections of said elongated channel members; and   determining a location of the image plane of the image in response to the distance between said images of the crosssections of said elongated channel members.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of determining comprises the step of determining distances between said images of the cross-sections of said elongated channel members. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of determining comprises the step of determining a ratio of distances between selected ones of said images of the cross-sections of said elongated channel members. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for defining an image plane of an image through the head of a human being, the apparatus comprising: an elongated flexible channel for containing an imaging-opaque fluid which is visible in the image;   first and second carrier means each for supporting three respective portions of said elongated flexible channel at respective orientations transverse to the image plane and in predetermined space relation with respect to one another, at least one of said carrier means being configured substantially as a bisected triangle; and   support means for maintaining said first and second carrier means in fixed spatial relation to one another and to the head of the human being.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said portions of said elongated flexible channel supported by said carrier means are each substantially straight. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said portions of said elongated flexible channel supported by each of said carrier means are arranged substantially as portions of a triangle. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the image is obtained via PET and said image-opaque fluid is a solution of 18F contrast material. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the image is obtained via MRI and said image-opaque fluid is a solution of Ni contrast material. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the image is obtained via CT and said image-opaque fluid is a solution of I contrast material.